San Diego Sheriff's Department alerts over 20,000 on Cocos Fire in San Marcos; fire remains at 800 acres, 5% containment

SAN MARCOS - At about 1:30 p.m., the Sheriff’s Department used AlertSanDiego to contact about 13,000 homes, business and cell phones in areas including Harmony Grove, western Escondido south of Highway 78 and north of Via Rancho Parkway and the Del Dios area north of Lake Hodges because of the Cocos Fire.

Shortly after that, the Escondido Police Department used AlertSanDiego to make about 7,500 contacts in the city’s jurisdiction.

Evacuated residents can go to Mission Hills High School at 1 Mission Hills Court or Escondido High School at 1535 North Broadway.